Bottle sand toy

ABSTRACT

A child&#39;&#39;s sand toy having individual take-apart components each of which have separate utility in connection with sand play. The toy comprises a simulated soft-drink bottle having a lower base portion defining a container and an upper funnel-shaped portion having an open neck and a reticulated cap which may be selectively removed or attached to the neck.

United States Patent Keces 1 Sept. 17, 1974 BOTTLE SAND TOY 3,428,238 2/1969 Shelby ct 111. 215 1 c x 3,490,50l l/l970 Mancm tz1l.... [75] Inventor: Mervy Keces, Hlghland Park 3,736,697 6/1973 Kcccsmf 46/17 [73] Assignee: Tan-son Company, Chicago, Ill.

- Primar Examiner-Hu h R. Chamblee 2 1 d: 2 7 Y E [2 1 Fl e July l9 3 Assistant Examiner-.l. Q. Lever [21] Appl. No.1 382,647 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gerald M. Newman [52] US. Cl 46/11, 46/17, 215/] C, {57] ABSTRACT 2 4 B [51] hm CL g A childs sand toy having ind1v1dual take-apart compo- [58] Field of r cli "l /iii; 1 7711; 215/1 c; Items e i h have garate utilityiincon'nec- 206/1316. 9a 47 R, 46 RL 220/4 B non with sand play. The to compnses simulated soft-drink bottle havmg a lower base portion defimng [56] References Cited a container and an upper funnel-shaped portion having an open neck and a reticulated cap which may be 3 O0 576 27 23 STASES PATENTS selectively removed or attached to the neck.

,1 l9 Fran 2l5/l C 3,263,847 8/1966 Amann 215/] C 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BOTTLE SAND TOY SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to toys for children and in particular relates to toys for use by children when playing with sand or other particulate materials. More particularly, this invention relates to a take-apart sand toy which simulates a soft-drink bottle such as a 7-UP beverage bottle wherein the upper and lower halves of the bottle have separate utility in connection with sand play.

Children typically enjoy playing with sand and similar particulate materials which may be used as a childs building and instructional element and which is also useful for molding and as an element of expression for the fertile, imaginative, creative minds of young children. Such play and expression is rendered infinitely more enjoyable when using various novel implements to scoop, carry, mold or sift the sand or other building material. This invention contributes to the enjoyment and natural expression of children when playing with sand by providing a take-apart sand toy which, when assembled, visually simulates a soft-drink beverage bottle and wherein each of the parts have separate utility in sand play.

In the take-apart sand toy of the invention, the lower portion or section of the bottle may be used as a container for holding, carrying, molding or pouring sand. The upper portion or section of the bottle tapers to form a funnel-like structure comprising a wide lower portion and a necklike upper portion. The neck has an opening at the top which may be covered by a reticulated, selectively removable cap through which sand may be poured. The wall forming the lower funnel portion includes a number of teeth along a segment of one edge which may be used to scoop or rake the sand.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel childs sand toy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel childs sand toy simulating a soft-drink bottle wherein the upper and lower sections simulating the bottle may be taken apart and used separately in sand play.

A further object of this invention is to provide a childs sand toy having a number of elements each of which have separate utility and which may be assembled to form a simulated soft-drink bottle with a selectively removable bottle cap.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from an understanding of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational assembled view of the takeapart toy of the invention simulating a soft-drink bottle;

FIG. 2 is a horizontally exploded view illustrating the three separate elements of the take-apart sand toy of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view generally taken along section line 33 of FIG. 2, but with the simulated bottle in its assembled condition and with a section of the side wall removed to more clearly show the scoop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the

take-apart sand toy of the invention, generally referred to by reference numeral 10, is seen to comprise a lower cylindrically shaped portion or section 12, an upper tapered portion or section 14 and a cap 16. Each component is preferably molded of strong, durable plastic material such as polyproplene which is highly resistant to bending, crushing and other rough handling, which the sand toy may receive when used by children. The polyproplene may be colored green to more realistically simulate the natural color of some soft-drink bottles, such as a 7-UP bottle.

The lower cylindrical shaped section has a height equal to approximately two-fifths of the total height of the simulated soft-drink bottle and has a proportionate diameter. The lower section is preferably molded of one-piece construction and includes a cylindrical side wall 18 and an integral bottom wall 20. A label 22 may either be molded as part of the outer surface of the side wall or may be applied as a separate element. The bottle construction has dimensions similar to a 32 fluid ounce soft-drink bottle.

The lower container section includes a groove 24 molded into its interior wall surface adjacent to its upper edge and also includes a lip 26 which cooperates with the upper section of the invention in a manner to be described hereinafter to form a detent for removably securing the upper and lower sections together.

Upper portion section 14 is tapered in the general shape of a funnel and includes a lower portion 30 having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lower section 12. The diameter of the upper section generally tapers from the given diameter to form a relatively long neck 32 having an outside diameter of approximately one-fourth of the largest diameter of the simulated bottle. The walls of the upper section are preferably molded in a one-piece construction and a label 34 may be glued or otherwise affixed to the upper section.

Upper section 14 includes a lower wall 35 or lesser thickness than the other components of the toy. Wall 36 is relieved along its lower edge to form a number of rake teeth 38 which transform the upper funnelshaped section into a sand scoop shovel or rake. When so used, the child grasps the tapered neck with the wide portion extending in the direction of the particulate matter or sand which the child wishes to scoop, shovel or rake.

The upper bottle section includes an exterior ridge or ring 40 of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the lower section. Ring 40 is complimentary to groove 24 provided in the lower section. Because of the flexibility of the materials of which the components are constructed ring 40 can be slipped over lip 26, to be received by groove 24 to thereby form a detent for removably securing the upper and lower portions of the bottle together. The two sections may be separated simply by applying an opposing force to the upper and lower sections and pulling them apart.

The sand toy of the invention also includes a simulated bottle cap 16 having a series of vertical ridges 42 along the outer wall simulating the pleated-like construction of a conventional metal bottle cap. The upper surface of the cap includes a plurality of apertures which serve as a sand sieve. The bottle cap is molded with an interior circular ridge 44 which cooperates with a complemental ridge 46 disposed downwardly adjacent the upper edge of the bottle. The two ridges 44-46 cooperate to form a detent for removably securing the bottle cap to the top of the bottle. Alternatively, a tight friction fit could be utilized for securing the bottle cap to the top of the bottle or for securing the upper and lower sections of the bottle together.

As seen in FIG. 1, the take-apart sand toy, in its fully assembled condition comprises a lower base section 12 which may be selectively secured to an upper funnelshaped section 14, and cap 16 which together simulate a soft-drink bottle. The lower portion of the bottle with its closed bottom is suitable for use as a sand container or sand mold, the upper portion of the bottle is suitable for use as a sand funnel and as a sand scoop which may be used to shovel, scoop or rake sand. The funnel, when used in conjunction with the removable cap may be used as a sand sieve.

What has been described is a childs sand toy having individual take-apart structural members each of which have separate utility in connection with sand play and which when assembled, simulate a soft-drink bottle.

It is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified both in physical appearance and construction without departing from its inventive concept. Therefore, the scope of protection to be given this invention should not be limited by the embodiment described above but should be determined by the essential descriptions thereof which appear in the appended claims.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A childs sand toy simulating a soft drink bottle when fully assembled comprising; a cylindrical-shaped base member having a closed lower end and an open upper end defining a container for receiving and molding sand; a funnel-shaped central member having an enlarged lower portion including a plurality of teeth formed by the funnel wall adapted to be received by the container, and an open end neck-like portion which may be grasped and used as a sand scoop and a simulated cap adapted to be received by the open neck in covering relation thereto, said cap including a reticulated surface through which dry sand may be poured.

2. The childs sand toy as set forth in claim 1 including detent means for firmly securing the central member to the cylindrical base and further including second detent means at the top of the neck for firmly securing the simulated cap thereto; said lower and central members simulating a soft-drink bottle. k 

1. A child''s sand toy simulating a soft drink bottle when fully assembled comprising; a cylindrical-shaped base member having a closed lower end and an open upper end defining a container for receiving and molding sand; a funnel-shaped central member having an enlarged lower portion including a plurality of teeth formed by the funnel wall adapted to be received by the container, and an open end neck-like portion which may be grasped and used as a sand scoop and a simulated cap adapted to be received by the open neck in covering relation thereto, said cap including a reticulated surface through which dry sand may be poured.
 2. The child''s sand toy as set forth in claim 1 including detent means for firmly securing the central member to the cylindrical base and further including second detent means at the top of the neck for firmly securing the simulated cap thereto; said lower and central members simulating a soft-drink bottle. 